Oil cs-llab



y 1931- H. w. CODDINGTON 1,806,594

OIL CELLAR FOR DRIVING BOXES Filed Aug. 20, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 26, 1931. H. w. CODDINGTON- OIL CELLAR FOR DRIVING BOXES Filed Aug. 20, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 May 26, 1931. H. w. CODDINGTON OIL CELLAR FOR DRIVING BOXES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 20, 1923 May 26, 1931. H. w. CODDINGTON ion; CELLAR FOR DRIVING BOXES I File d Aug. 20, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 1931- H. w. CODDlN-GTON 1,806,594

OIL CELLAR FOR DRIVING BOXES Filed Aug. 20, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 26, 1931 UNITE. res

HARRY V7. CGDDIIIGTON, OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA OIL CELLAR FOR DRIVING- BOXES Application filed August 20, 1922. Serial No. 658,272.

This invention relates to an improved lubricating device primarily adaptedfor use on the driving boxes of locomotives.

An object of the invention is to provide anoil'cellar of'comparatively simple and rel'iable construction from which lubricating oil is uniformly applied to the driving axles,

said cellar having associated therewith an oil reservoir the capacity of which is sufiicient to supply the boxes for relatively long runs.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a lubricating mechanism of the class described which will obviate the use of the relativ'ely solid and cake-like lubricating material which requires frequent replacing during the course of comparatively short runs and which in some cases provides inadequate lubrication'for the axles. A further object of the invention is to form an oilcellar and fountain feed oil reservoir into a unitary structure which can be easily applied to the driving box at both minimum initial and subsequent maintenance 5 costs. 7

A still further object of the invention is to provide an oil cellar involving a receptacle and removable perforated basket, said basket being of a shape which will effectively retain thewaste in engagement with the axle and permit of the capillary feed of oil through the interposed waste or other suitable absorbing material, means being provided for yieldingly supporting both the receptacle and the basket whereby the oil soaked waste i-s uniformly maintained in contact with the axle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an .oil lubricating mechanism for driving boxes in which the oil is supplied from a remotely located receptacle or container to a plurality of driving boxes, said reservoir being provided with aplurality of compartments all of which are filled through a valvegcommon to the respective oil inlets in each compartment, said valve operating to permit the simultaneousfilling of the compartments and also operating to form a tight closure and seal for the respective compart ments whereby each fountain feed'utili'zed in supplying the oil to its driving box is capable of operating to maintain a constant level of oil in the cellar supportedon an adjacent driving box.

With these and other objects in view, the invention further consists in the combination, construction and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter described.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of a locomotive frame provided with, a driving box into which the "axle, shown in section, extends, my improved lubri eating cellar and oil reservoir being shown attached thereto.

V Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detached View in elevation of the combined oil cellar and reservoir, a ,portion of the cellar being illustrated in section.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the oil cellar showing the retaining basket with the sponging removed.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional viet i H through a portion of the basket or waste retainer showing the means yieldingly supporting the same.

Figure 6 is a view showing the oikcllar and associated parts in vertical section, said section being taken axially of the locomotive 8 axle, the associated oil reservoir being shown in elevation.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the oil receptacle illustrating the means yieldingly supporting the same. i '85 Figure 8 is a detail view through the valve control of the fountain feed device employed to deliver a constant supply of oil to the cellar.

' Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation of a slightly modified construction of oil cellar embodying an extension to which the oil is supplied from the oil reservoir.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View through a construction of oil reservoir used to supply a plurality of-driv ing boxes.

Figure 11 is a sectional elevation of the fountain feed control utilized inconnection with "each driving box supplied with oil from the reservoirshown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 1212 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the reservoir and associated fountain feed connections for the respective oil compartn'ients in said reservoir.

Figure 14: is a detail vertical section of the valve member common to the respective inlets of the oil compartments in the reservoir.

Referring to the drawings in which corresponding ref'erence characters designate similar parts in the several views, a portion of the locomotive frame is indicated by the numeral 1, said frame having positioned therein a driving box 2 of usual construction, said driving box being adapted to receive the axle 3. The construction of driving box may be of any type, and while I have shown my invention as applied thereto, it will be understood that it is equally applicable to other constructions of journals and bearings in which conditions similar to those existing in locomotive practice are involved.

My improved construction of lubricating device involves a combined cellar and associated oil reservoir installed .as a unit and supported by the driving box. The oil cellar proper includes among other things an oil receptacle 4 mounted on a supporting memher or plate 5, the latter being provided with openings 6 adapted to receive bolts for connecting the cellar to the box. The openings 6 are preferably formed in sleeve-like portions 7 extending transversely of the cellar, the intermediate and upper portions of said openings extending into the upper face of the plate 5, as best shown in Figure 6. End wall portions 8 project upwardly from the supporting member 5 and the oil receptacle is adapted to be fitted therebetween axially of the driving shaft or axle. The oil receptacle is further retained in position for vertical movement with respect to the supporting member 5 by means of the inner adjacent face of the driving box contacting the same at one end and a retaining plate 9 located at the opposite end. The plate 9 is connected by means of a bolt and nut 10 to the supporting section 5, the upper end of said retaining plate projecting above said supporting section and providing an outer guide between which and the adjacent opposite face of the driving box, the said oil receptacle is free to move vertically for engagement with the axle.

The oil receptacle 4. is provided at each end with a sealing member or ring 11, said members being shaped to partially surround the axle at each end of the reservoir for preventing the escape of oil. The sealing ringlike members are positioned Within the reservoir and maintained therein by means of retaining members 12. The retaining members 12 are provided on their upper edges with supporting surfaces upon which the ring-like members rest, said retaining members providing a relatively firm yet easily detachable connection for effectively supporting the sealing members. The upper edges of the end walls of the receptacle 4: provide supporting surfaces for the sealing members and, together with the retaining members 12, act to provide relatively wide glifll'ClS which effectively prevent the loss of 01 The oil receptacle 4 is vertically movable with respect to its supporting plate 5, a yieldable member or spring 13 being interposed between the bottom of said reservoir and the upper face of the supporting plate. The spring is preferably contained within a recess portion 14 provided in the under face of the receptacle 4, suitable clips 15 acting to connect said spring to the reservoir, as best shown in Figure 7. In operation the spring 13 serves to bodily force the oil cellar upwardly whereby the sealing rings 11 are caused to be positioned in very close relation to or actual contact with the axle.

The means for applying lubricating oil to the axle involves cotton waste or other sponging material, portions of which are disposed in contact with the axle and other portions of which are positioned within the oil contained in the reservoir. The waste is advantageously positioned within the oil receptacle by means of a retaining member or sponge basket 16, said basket involving a plurality of partitions 17 which act to separate the spongmg and prevent it from rolling and packing against the axle. The partitions 17 are of inverted V-shape and include perforated or sieve-like inclined walls 18. The respective walls 18 which form the inverted V-like partitions provide a plurality of waste receiving pockets 19 and intermediate oil spaces 20. The bottom of each waste receiving pocket is provided with an opening 21 through which the waste projects into the oil for purposes of complete saturation. The upper open end of each pocket 19 is flared and permits of a maximum contact of the saturated waste with the axle. A sponge basket constructed in accordance with my present invention acts to supply a uniform amount of oil to the axle as provision is made for oil storage in close proximity to the point of delivery of the oil by the sponging of the journals.

The waste receiving basket is yieldingly supported within the receptacle l by means of springs 22, said springs being connected to the underside of the basket at a plurality of points, and act to forcibly maintain the waste in contact with the axle independently of the spring 13 yieldingly supporting the receptacle 4. A very uniform and economical consumption of oil is effected as the result of the foregoing construction.

The oil is conveyed to the receptacle 4 from a reservoir 23 arranged adjacent the cellar.

The reservoir includes a suitable can having a reduced cylindrical neck portion 24adapted to extend within the cup member 25, the upper'speripheral edge of said cup member providing a seat 26 upon whichthe shouldered portion of the can adjacent the next extension is adapted to rest, as best shown in Figure 8. The reservoir .is preferably provided with a valve '27 adapted toform a closure for the can and prevent the loss of oil when inverting the can'for insertion into the cup or member 25. The valve is caused to open when the can is positioned in the cup member, the valve stem 28 thereof striking the bottom of. the cup and opening the valve against the tension of the spring 29. The cylindrical neck or extension 24 is provided with an opening 30, said opening being located at a point correspondlng to the level at which it is desired to carry. the oil in the cellar.

The cup member 25 is supported on the pipe extension 31, said "extension serving to convey the oil to the cellar through a plurality of inlets 32. Suitable fittings 33 unite the inlets 32 with the pipe 31, as will be understood. By. this construction of fountain feed,

the oilcan be maintained in the cellar or re ceptacle 4 at any predetermined'level, thereby. permitting its comparatively uniform absorption and dlStI'lbUtlOILtO the axle. It will be obvious that for different types of locomotives and conditions of service, the fountain feed may be varied, depending upon thelevel of the oil desired.

In Figure f the drawings a slightly differentconstruction of cellar and reservoir is shown in which the oil-is delivered from the reservoir to anextension chamber :34, said chamber communicating with the receptacle portion of the cellar, as will be understood. In this construction the reservoir 35 is relatively fixed with respect to the cellar, and the oil is introduced through a suitable filling cap indicated bythe numeral 36.

,In .Figures 10 to 14 I-have shown an improved construction of oil reservoir or container capable of supplying the several "driv ing boxes of a locomotive, said container being provided with a plurality of compartments 37, each of said compartments being directly connected to a driving box on the locomotive. The casing of the valve member 39 is provided with a plurality of ports 38 preferably arranged so as to be simultaneously controlled by the said valve member 39. Each compartment 37 is therefore in direct communication with the valve through the respective ports 38. The valve member 39 is provided with a port 40 so as to keep a supply of oil between the lower face of the valve and the Valve casing to assist in forming an airtight joint. Tofill the several compartments 37 the cap 41 is removed and the valve 39 moved downwardly against the tension of the spring 42, thereby opening the ports 38 and permitting the oil poured within the valve casing to be distributed to the several compartments 37. When a suflicient supply of oil has been introduced the valve member 39 is released and moves upwardly automatically closed the ports 38, and when the cap 41 is replaced the valve 39 is held from movement in one direction by the spring 42 and in the opposite direction by means of the lower edge of the cap 41 contacting the same.

The oil reservoir as shown in Figure 10 is connected to a plurality of driving boxes corresponding of course to the number of chambers within the reservoir. This connection is made by means of the nipples 43 which lead from the respective chambers 37 by a flexible hose and piping, not shown, and by the combined nipple and elbow 44, one of each of the latter being connected to the oil cellar of each driving box. In the elbow portion of combined elbow and nipple 44 there are provided openings 45 to maintain atmospheric pressure above the oil level in the vertical neck of the L. In the stem 46 is provided an opening, preferably positioned as shown in Fig. 11, the location of which regulates the height of oil carried in the oil cellar. Oil will feed into the L 44 when the opening in the stem 46 is uncovered, and will cease to flow as soon as the oil rises to a point where it seals this opening in the stem 46.

The arrangement shown in Figures 10 to 14 forms, therefore,.a fountain feed which acts to maintain the oil at constant levels through out the several cellars attached to the driving boxes, which levels can be predetermined according to the requirements of the service conditions. By the use of a single oil reservoir or container provided with compartments for supplying the respective driving boxes a particularly effective system of lubrication is afforded wherein the reservoir may be remotely located with respect to the boxes and conveniently arranged for relatively rapid and easy filling.

a-ving now described my invention, although it is to be understood that the terms employed are to be taken in their descriptive and not in their limiting sense, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a lubricating device for locomotive driving boxes, the combination with an oil receptacle, of a sponging retaining member removably contained within said receptacle, means for yieldingly supporting said receptacle, means for yieldingly supporting said sponging retaining member, and an oil reservoir supported by said oil receptacle and having means for maintaining the oil at a constant level therein.

2. In a lubricating device for locomotive driving boxes, the combination with a separable oil receptacle having a portion adapted to fit the axle, resilient means supporting said receptaclc, waste contained within said receptacle, and a retainer member for said waste, said member acting to seperate the waste at a plurality of points with portions of each division engaging the axle and other portions of each extending into the oil with in the receptacle.

3. In a lubricating device for locomotive driving boxes, the combination with a separable oil receptacle having a portion adapted to lit the axle, resilient means supporting said receptacle, loose lubricant applying material contained within said receptacle, and means for separting said material with portions of each part engaging the axle and other portions of eachextending into the oil within the receptacle.

at. In a unitary lubricating device for 10- comotive driving boxes, the combination with an oil receptacle adapted to be supported on said box and having a portion partially sur rounding the axle, means arranged in said receptacle for uniformly applying oil to said axle, and means including a removable oil reservoir disposed between the frames of the locomotive and having communication with said receptacle for supplying oil thereto, said last named means being supported by the driving box, and adapted for refilling when reversed in position.

5. In a unitary lubricating device for locomotive driving boxes, the combination with an oil receptacle adapted to be supported on said box and having a portion partially surrounding the axle, means arranged in said receptacle for uniformly applying oil to said axle, and means including an oil reservoir disposed inwardly of the adjacent frame of the locomotive and having communication with said receptacle for supplying oil at a constant level thereto, said last named means being attached to said oil reservoir, and adapted for removal and reversal for refilling.

6. In a lubricating device for locomotive driving boxes, the combination with an oil containing receptacle adapted to be supported on said box and havin a portion partially surrounding the axle, a lubricant applying material contained within said receptacle and extending from the oil to above the level thereof, means for yieldingly positioning said material with respect to sad axle and the oil contained in the receptacle, means provided on said receptacle adapted to contact the axle for preventing the escape of oil, and means are yieldingly supporting said receptacle whereby the aforesaid means is maintained in contact with the axle.

7 In a lubricating device for locomotive driving boxes, the combination with an oil containing receptacle adapted to be supported on said box and having a portion partially surrounding the axle, a lubricant applyi g material contained within said receptacle with part extending above and part below the oil level, means for positioning said material for applying oil to the axle, means for yieldingly supporting the material positioning means, and means for yieldingly supporting the oil receptacle.

8. In a lubricating device for locomotive driving boxes, the combination with an oil containing receptacle having a portion adapted to partially surround the axle, means including a supporting member connected to the driving box and adapted to receive said oil receptacle, a spring interposed between said member and oil receptacle for yieldingly supporting the latter with portions thereof contacting the axle to prevent the escape of oil, means including absorbent material extending from the oil to above the level thereof for applying the oil to the axle, and means resilently supported above the oil containing receptacle for yieldingly maintailning said material in position against the ax e.

9. In a lubricating device for a locomotive driving box, the combination with an oil receptacle adapted to be supported on said box having an extension chamber, means located in said receptacle for applying the oil to the axle, an oil reservoir supported by said extension and having communication there-:- with, and means permitting flow of oil from said reservoir to said extension and receptacle to maintain said oil at a constant level therein.

10. In a lubricating system for locomotives for conveying oil to a plurality of driving boxes, the combination with a container having a plurality of compartments, each of which is provided with an inlet, a valve common to all of said inlets for controlling the uniform supply of oil to said compartments, said valve also providing a closure and acting in conjunction with the oil to form a seal for said compartments, an oil cellar for each of said driving boxes, means connecting each compartment in said container to its respective cellar, and means provided between each of said compartments and its cellar for maintaining lubricating oil at a constant level in the cellar.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY W. CODDINGTON. 

